EP1459988B1 - Method and apparatus for providing codes on cigarette pack units - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for providing codes on cigarette pack units Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1459988B1
EP1459988B1 EP04004653A EP04004653A EP1459988B1 EP 1459988 B1 EP1459988 B1 EP 1459988B1 EP 04004653 A EP04004653 A EP 04004653A EP 04004653 A EP04004653 A EP 04004653A EP 1459988 B1 EP1459988 B1 EP 1459988B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coding
cigarette
packaging
packer
carton
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP04004653A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1459988A1 (en
Inventor
Hans-Werner Fuchs
Frank Prauka
Bernd Rabenstein
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
British American Tobacco Germany GmbH
Original Assignee
British American Tobacco Germany GmbH
BAT Cigarettenfabriken GmbH
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Publication date
Application filed by British American Tobacco Germany GmbH, BAT Cigarettenfabriken GmbH filed Critical British American Tobacco Germany GmbH
Priority to PL04004653T priority Critical patent/PL1459988T3/en
Publication of EP1459988A1 publication Critical patent/EP1459988A1/en
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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K17/00—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
    • G06K17/0022—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device
    • G06K17/0029—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/26—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for marking or coding completed packages
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
    • B65B65/003—Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/07—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles
    • B65D85/08—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular
    • B65D85/10—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for compressible or flexible articles rod-shaped or tubular for cigarettes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2203/00—Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and a system for identifying cigarette packaging units with an encoding in encrypted form.
  • WO 01/54986 discloses a method and an arrangement for labeling cigarette packages, wherein the cigarette packages rest on a belt conveyor and are guided past a marking means, for example a laser or a printing unit.
  • the label is cryptographically composed, so that a large archiving effort arises.
  • WO 02/04297 A1 discloses a device for labeling, are clamped in the opposite side surfaces of the cigarette packs of two parallel endless belts and passed to a printing unit over. Can be printed either only of the endless belts projecting side portions of a cigarette pack or not clamped by the conveyor belts side surfaces. The marking of other packaging units such as bars, containers, etc. is not mentioned.
  • DE 100 04 022 A1 discloses a method and apparatus for applying codes to cigarette packets that are either comparable to WO 02/04297 A1 is formed or circulated in the cigarette packs in a dry turret and labeled with a laser. Also in this arrangement, the area available for marking is subject to device limitations. The marking of other packaging units is not possible.
  • a corresponding coding with information for manufacturers and / or distributors and / or customers must be applied at each packaging stage, for example about the production time, the manufacturing aggregate, the manufacturer, if necessary, the authenticity, the delivery process or the packaging process.
  • the invention has for its object to provide a method and a system for the identification of cigarette packaging units with a coding, in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are at least reduced.
  • a method and a system are proposed with which the amount of coding data to be archived can be reduced and nevertheless it is ensured that the distribution channel can be detected without gaps by the cigarette machine at least until the first customer outside the manufacturer's company.
  • each packaging unit occurring that is, for example, cigarette pack, container, carton and pallet, must be provided with an encoding in encrypted form.
  • the various coding steps are now carried out such that each coding on a packaging unit, for example on a container, reproduces the coding of at least one of the smaller packaging units contained therein, in this case all cigarette packs.
  • the coding on the respectively used, largest packaging unit so for example a pallet
  • the coding must be applied to the finished packaging units on a path and / or at a location in the packaging process that ensures that the marking system knows which smaller packaging units are in a larger package when applying the coding Packaging unit are brought, so for example, which packages are packed together in a carton.
  • the cigarette packs alone, so without further, larger packaging units are not placed on the market, so in the trade, so that at least within a predetermined period of time, the cigarette packs can be provided with identical codes, for example, the manufacturer, the manufacturing unit, ie the Indicate the cigarette machine, the associated packet packer, the date of manufacture and the time range for the production.
  • the requirement of unambiguous assignment of the products to a first customer can also be met if the same coding is used for a given period both for cigarette packs and for containers filled with these cigarette packs and the traceability of all cigarette packs is ensured.
  • the labeling of the container with such coding is conveniently carried out directly on the packer.
  • a package store is generally arranged as a buffer, which often reverses the order of the packages from the point of view of " last-in-first-out".
  • a reader is provided directly in front of the box packer, which reads the coding on the packages, which are packed in a single box. From the coded data read from the containers, a new carton coding is created, which is applied directly in the carton packer and e.g. contains the pack / pack coding and an additional carton code.
  • the continuously successive containers can accordingly be combined into " intervals" and provided with corresponding codes, whereby even in this case archiving can be simplified.
  • a corresponding procedure is carried out when creating and archiving the coding for the pallets.
  • the labeling of the packaging units by such a marking can be done in various ways, such as printing by means of an inkjet printer, a laser printer, laser ablation, embossing equipment, etc., the application of stickers, magnetic tapes, etc., in various forms such as barcode, 2D code etc., for example for date, time, place of production, production unit etc. or in encrypted form.
  • the coding on the containers as well as on the boxes and the pallets is in machine-readable form, for example by barcode or 2D-code, also from the point of view that pallets, but also cartons must be handled by different sales organizations outside the manufacturing company and therefore the coded information must be queried automatically.
  • the coding on the cigarette packs can be done on the cellophane, for example by an inkjet printer, or through the cellophane on the material of the cigarette pack itself, for example by laser marking.
  • the cigarettes produced by a cigarette machine are supplied in the usual way as a continuous stream to a packet packer who packs them into the smallest packaging unit, namely a cigarette pack.
  • the coding consists eg of a code number for the place of manufacture, a code number for the cigarette machine, eg 07, a code number for the packet packer, eg 05, as well as the production time and, if applicable, a mark of authenticity.
  • cigarette packs are then packaged in containers, which are also marked by an encoding.
  • the same coding is used as with the cigarette packs, which are located in this container.
  • the individual containers reach from the package packer to a container storage, which serves as a buffer and in many cases reverses the order of the containers (last in-first out).
  • container storage which serves as a buffer and in many cases reverses the order of the containers (last in-first out).
  • containers are taken from the continuous flow of production for quality control, so that no continuous, uninterrupted order of the containers is guaranteed.
  • a corresponding method can also be carried out in the coding of the pallets, which takes place directly on the pallet packer.
  • a reader must also be installed immediately in front of the pallet packer, which reads the coding on the cartons to be packed in a pallet.
  • the pallet coding consists of the cardboard coding and an additional pallet code.
  • the encodings of the small packaging units are identically contained in the encodings of the larger packaging units, this is not necessarily required, but also encodings may be made. It is only important that one can derive the coding of the packaging units contained therein from a coding of a packaging unit.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

The clear plastics wrappings for the individual cardboard packets of cigarettes may be made of Cellophane(RTM). Opaque codes may be printed on the wrappers using inkjet printers. The procedure involves packing (Pakchen Packer), coding (Codierung), packaging of packets (Gebinde Packer) and coding. There is a store (Gebinde Speicher) and a reader (Lesegerat). There are further packing and coding and reading stages for packing cartons and loading cartons onto pallets.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren und ein System zum Kennzeichnen von Zigaretten-Verpackungseinheiten mit einer Codierung in verschlüsselter Form.The invention relates to a method and a system for identifying cigarette packaging units with an encoding in encrypted form.

Zur Produktverfolgung werden häufig Produkte mit Codes versehen, die es erlauben, die Vertriebswege nachzuvollziehen, Rückrufaktionen durchzuführen oder die Echtheit des Produkts nachzuweisen.For product tracking, products are often provided with codes that make it possible to track the distribution channels, to perform product recalls or to prove the authenticity of the product.

Auch in der Zigarettenindustrie müssen solche Codierungen vorgenommen werden, wobei jedoch aufgrund der Produktionsgeschwindigkeit von Zigarettenpackungen mit bis zu 800 Packungen pro Minute große technische Probleme auftreten. Um eine Codierung bei diesen extrem hohen Produktionsgeschwindigkeiten durchzuführen, muss ein erheblicher technischer Aufwand betrieben werden.Also in the cigarette industry such codes must be made, but due to the production speed of cigarette packs with up to 800 packs per minute major technical problems occur. In order to perform an encoding at these extremely high production speeds, a considerable technical effort must be operated.

In der Vergangenheit wurden solche Informationen dem Folienabschnitt einer Zigarettenpackung aufgeprägt oder in anderer Weise auf diesen aufgebracht, so dass die Packung zum Lesen der Information geöffnet werden musste. Später wurden Verfahren bekannt, um Information auf der Außenseite der Zigarettenpackung aufzubringen, beispielsweise durch Tintenstrahldrucken oder Laserbeschriftung. Dabei besteht grundsätzlich die Anforderung, dass der Strom von Zigarettenpackungen während der Produktion möglichst nicht unterbrochen oder angehalten wird.In the past, such information was imprinted or otherwise applied to the film portion of a cigarette pack, so that the package had to be opened to read the information. Later, methods have been known to apply information to the outside of the cigarette pack, for example, by ink jet printing or laser marking. In principle, there is a requirement that the flow of cigarette packs during production is not interrupted or stopped as far as possible.

WO 01/54986 offenbart ein Verfahren und eine Anordnung zur Kennzeichnung von Zigarettenpackungen, wobei die Zigarettenpackungen auf einem Bandförderer aufliegen und an einem Kennzeichnungsmittel, beispielsweise einem Laser oder einem Druckwerk, vorbei geführt werden. Dabei ist die Kennzeichnung kryptografisch zusammengesetzt, so dass ein großer Archivierungs-Aufwand entsteht. WO 01/54986 discloses a method and an arrangement for labeling cigarette packages, wherein the cigarette packages rest on a belt conveyor and are guided past a marking means, for example a laser or a printing unit. The label is cryptographically composed, so that a large archiving effort arises.

WO 02/04297 A1 offenbart eine Vorrichtung zur Kennzeichnung, bei der gegenüber liegende Seitenflächen der Zigarettenpackungen von zwei parallel verlaufenden Endlosbändern geklemmt und an einem Druckwerk vorbei geführt werden. Bedruckt werden können entweder nur von den Endlosbändern vorstehende Seitenabschnitte einer Zigarettenpackung oder nicht von den Förderbändern geklemmte Seitenflächen. Die Markierung von anderen Verpackungseinheiten wie Stangen, Gebinden etc. wird nicht erwähnt. WO 02/04297 A1 discloses a device for labeling, are clamped in the opposite side surfaces of the cigarette packs of two parallel endless belts and passed to a printing unit over. Can be printed either only of the endless belts projecting side portions of a cigarette pack or not clamped by the conveyor belts side surfaces. The marking of other packaging units such as bars, containers, etc. is not mentioned.

DE 100 04 022 A1 offenbart ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung zum Anbringen von Codierungen an Zigarettenpackungen, das bzw. die entweder vergleichbar zur WO 02/04297 A1 ausgebildet ist oder bei der Zigarettenpackungen in einem Trockenrevolver kreisgeführt und mit einem Laser beschriftet werden. Auch bei dieser Anordnung unterliegt die zur Kennzeichnung zur Verfügung stehende Fläche gerätebedingten Beschränkungen. Die Markierung anderer Verpackungseinheiten ist damit nicht möglich. DE 100 04 022 A1 discloses a method and apparatus for applying codes to cigarette packets that are either comparable to WO 02/04297 A1 is formed or circulated in the cigarette packs in a dry turret and labeled with a laser. Also in this arrangement, the area available for marking is subject to device limitations. The marking of other packaging units is not possible.

Die Anmelderin hat in der deutschen Patentanmeldung 102 21 837.4 ebenfalls ein Markierungssystem vorgeschlagen, das nur für Päckchen geeignet ist.The Applicant has in the German patent application 102 21 837.4 also proposed a marking system that is only suitable for parcels.

Dabei muss jedoch berücksichtigt werden, dass in der Zigarettenindustrie der Verpackungsablauf bis zum Versand in der Regel in vier Stufen verläuft, nämlich

  1. 1.) Zigaretten in die Zigarettenpackung, oft auch als "Päckchen" bezeichnet,
  2. 2.) die fertige Zigarettenpackungen in Gebinde, oft auch als "Stangen" bezeichnet,
  3. 3.) Gebinde in Kartons, und
  4. 4.) Kartons auf Palette.
However, it has to be taken into account that in the cigarette industry, the packaging process usually takes place in four stages until shipping, namely
  1. 1.) Cigarettes in the cigarette pack, often referred to as " packets",
  2. 2.) the finished cigarette packs in containers, often referred to as " rods",
  3. 3.) Containers in boxes, and
  4. 4.) Cartons on pallet.

Zur Produktverfolgung muss auf jeder Verpackungsstufe eine entsprechende Codierung mit Informationen für Hersteller und/oder Händler und/oder Kunden aufgebracht werden, beispielsweise über die Herstellungs-Zeit, das Herstellungs-Aggregat, die Herstellerfirma, ggf. die Echtheit, den Lieferverlauf oder auch den Verpackungsablauf.For product tracking, a corresponding coding with information for manufacturers and / or distributors and / or customers must be applied at each packaging stage, for example about the production time, the manufacturing aggregate, the manufacturer, if necessary, the authenticity, the delivery process or the packaging process.

Diese Markierungen können in Klarschrift oder verschlüsselt aufgebracht werden, so dass bereits die Archivierung der Vielzahl von anfallenden Codierdaten ein großes Problem darstellt. Denn bei der Herstellung von 800 Päckchen/min und damit 380.000 Päckchen pro Schicht und Vergabe einer Codierung für jedes Päckchen entstehen in kurzer Zeit riesige Datenmengen, deren Bewältigung auch im Computerzeitalter problematisch ist.These markings can be applied in plain text or in encrypted form, so that even the archiving of the large number of resulting coding data represents a major problem. With the production of 800 parcels per minute and thus 380,000 parcels per shift and the assignment of a coding for each parcel, huge amounts of data are generated in a short time, which are difficult to tackle even in the computer age.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Verfahren und ein System zum Kennzeichen von Zigaretten-Verpackungseinheiten mit einer Codierung zu schaffen, bei der die oben erwähnten Nachteile zumindest verringert werden. Insbesondere sollen ein Verfahren und ein System vorgeschlagen werden, mit denen sich die zu archivierenden Codierdaten-Mengen reduzieren lassen und trotzdem sichergestellt wird, dass der Vertriebsweg von der Zigarettenmaschine zumindest bis zum Erstkunden außerhalb des Herstellerunternehmens lückenlos nachgewiesen werden kann.The invention has for its object to provide a method and a system for the identification of cigarette packaging units with a coding, in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are at least reduced. In particular, a method and a system are proposed with which the amount of coding data to be archived can be reduced and nevertheless it is ensured that the distribution channel can be detected without gaps by the cigarette machine at least until the first customer outside the manufacturer's company.

Dies wird für ein Verfahren durch die Merkmale des Anspruchs 1 und für ein System durch die Merkmale des Anspruchs 14 erreicht.This is achieved for a method by the features of claim 1 and for a system by the features of claim 14.

Zweckmäßige Ausführungsformen werden durch die zugehörigen Unteransprüche definiert.Advantageous embodiments are defined by the associated subclaims.

Die mit der Erfindung erzielten Vorteile beruhen auf folgenden Überlegungen: In der Zigarettenindustrie muss jede auftretende Verpackungseinheit, also beispielsweise Zigarettenpackung, Gebinde, Karton und Palette, mit einer Codierung in verschlüsselter Form versehen werden. Erfindungsgemäß werden nun die verschiedenen Codierungsschritte so vorgenommen, dass jede Codierung auf einer Verpackungseinheit, zum Beispiel auf einem Gebinde, die Codierung zumindest einer von den kleineren, darin enthaltenen Verpackungseinheiten, in diesem Fall also aller Zigarettenpackungen, wiedergibt.The advantages achieved by the invention are based on the following considerations: In the cigarette industry, each packaging unit occurring, that is, for example, cigarette pack, container, carton and pallet, must be provided with an encoding in encrypted form. According to the invention, the various coding steps are now carried out such that each coding on a packaging unit, for example on a container, reproduces the coding of at least one of the smaller packaging units contained therein, in this case all cigarette packs.

Damit ist die Codierung auf der jeweils eingesetzten, größten Verpackungseinheit, also beispielsweise einer Palette, eindeutig den Codierungen der Kartons, Gebinde oder Zigarettenpackungen zugeordnet, die sich auf dieser Palette befinden.Thus, the coding on the respectively used, largest packaging unit, so for example a pallet, clearly associated with the codes of the boxes, containers or cigarette packs that are on this pallet.

Zweckmäßig ist, alle Verpackungseinheiten so zu markieren, um einen eindeutigen Überblick zu erhalten.It is expedient to mark all packaging units in such a way as to obtain a clear overview.

Um die lückenlos identifizierende Codierung zu gewährleisten, muss das Aufbringen der Codierung auf die fertigen Verpackungseinheiten auf einem Weg und/oder an einer Stelle im Verpackungsablauf erfolgen, die gewährleisten, dass dem Markierungssystem beim Aufbringen der Codierung bekannt ist, welche kleinere Verpackungseinheiten gemeinsam in eine größere Verpackungseinheit gebracht werden, also beispielsweise welche Gebinde gemeinsam in einen Karton gepackt werden.To ensure seamless coding, the coding must be applied to the finished packaging units on a path and / or at a location in the packaging process that ensures that the marking system knows which smaller packaging units are in a larger package when applying the coding Packaging unit are brought, so for example, which packages are packed together in a carton.

Aus diesem Grunde erfolgt die Codierung der Zigarettenpackungen erst kurz vor dem Gebindepacker, da an dieser Stelle ein kontinuierlicher Strom von einwandfreien Zigarettenpackungen vorhanden ist.For this reason, the coding of the cigarette packs is done just before the packer pack, as at this point a continuous stream of flawless cigarette packs is available.

Andererseits werden die Zigarettenpackungen alleine, also ohne weitere, größere Verpackungseinheiten nicht in den Verkehr, also in den Handel, gebracht, so dass zumindest innerhalb einer vorgegebenen Zeitspanne die Zigarettenpackungen mit identischen Codierungen versehen werden können, die beispielsweise den Hersteller, das Herstellungsaggregat, also die Zigarettenmaschine, den zugehörigen Päckchenpacker, das Datum der Fertigung und den Zeitbereich für die Fertigung angeben.On the other hand, the cigarette packs alone, so without further, larger packaging units are not placed on the market, so in the trade, so that at least within a predetermined period of time, the cigarette packs can be provided with identical codes, for example, the manufacturer, the manufacturing unit, ie the Indicate the cigarette machine, the associated packet packer, the date of manufacture and the time range for the production.

In diesen Zeitbereichen können alle Päckchen, die von derselben Zigarettenmaschine und demselben Päckchenpacker kommen, mit einer identischen Codierung versehen werden.During these time periods, all parcels coming from the same cigarette machine and the same parcel packer can be provided with identical coding.

In der Regel werden Einheiten von 10 Zigarettenpackungen mit jeweils identischen Codierungen in ein Gebinde, auch als "Stange" bezeichnet, gepackt, wobei es sich anbietet, die gleiche Codierung auch für Gebinde zu verwenden, da einzelne Gebinde in der Regel nicht in den Handel gebracht werden. Insbesondere sollen nur ein Gebinde und die darin befindlichen Packungen die gleiche Codierung erhalten.In general, units of 10 cigarette packs, each with identical codings in a container, also referred to as " rod", packed, it being advisable to use the same coding for containers, since individual packages are not usually placed on the market become. In particular, only one container and the packages contained therein should receive the same coding.

Damit lässt sich die Forderung der eindeutigen Zuordnung der Produkte zu einem Erstkunden auch erfüllen, wenn die gleiche Codierung für einen vorgegebenen Zeitraum sowohl für Zigarettenpackungen als auch für Gebinde verwendet wird, die mit diesen Zigarettenpackungen gefüllt sind, und die Rückverfolgbarkeit aller Zigarettenpäcken ist gewährleistet.Thus, the requirement of unambiguous assignment of the products to a first customer can also be met if the same coding is used for a given period both for cigarette packs and for containers filled with these cigarette packs and the traceability of all cigarette packs is ensured.

Die Kennzeichnung der Gebinde mit einer solchen Codierung erfolgt zweckmäßigerweise direkt am Gebindepacker.The labeling of the container with such coding is conveniently carried out directly on the packer.

Zwischen dem Gebindepacker und dem Kartonpacker ist im Allgemeinen ein Gebindespeicher als Puffer angeordnet, der häufig die Reihenfolge der Gebinde unter dem Gesichtspunkt "last in-first out" umkehrt.Between the packer and the carton packer, a package store is generally arranged as a buffer, which often reverses the order of the packages from the point of view of " last-in-first-out".

Da zusätzlich gelegentlich Gebinde aus dem kontinuierlichen Produktfluss für Qualitätskontrollen entnommen werden, wird direkt vor dem Kartonpacker ein Lesegerät vorgesehen, das die Codierung auf den Gebinden liest, die in einen einzigen Karton gepackt werden. Aus den eingelesenen Codierdaten von den Gebinden wird eine neue Karton-Codierung erstellt, die direkt im Kartonpacker aufgebracht wird und z.B. die Packungs-/Gebinde-Codierung und einen zusätzlichen Karton-Code enthält.In addition, as occasional packages are taken from the continuous product flow for quality control, a reader is provided directly in front of the box packer, which reads the coding on the packages, which are packed in a single box. From the coded data read from the containers, a new carton coding is created, which is applied directly in the carton packer and e.g. contains the pack / pack coding and an additional carton code.

Um auch auf dieser Stufe die Archivierung der Codierdaten zu vereinfachen, ist es im Falle eines kontinuierlichen Stroms von nacheinander produzierten Gebinden, die in einen Karton verpackt werden, möglich, nur den Code des ersten und des letzten Gebindes zu archivieren, das in diesem Karton verpackt wird, d.h., als Datensatz, der aus den beiden Gebindecodes für das erste und das letzte Gebinde sowie dem zusätzlichen, speziellen Karton-Code besteht.In order to simplify the archiving of the coding data also at this stage, it is possible, in the case of a continuous stream of successively produced packages, which are packed in a carton, to archive only the code of the first and of the last package packed in this carton ie, as a record consisting of the two bundle codes for the first and last bundles and the additional, special carton code.

In den seltenen Fällen, in denen der kontinuierliche Fluss von nacheinander produzierten Gebinden unterbrochen worden ist, können entsprechend die kontinuierlich aufeinanderfolgenden Gebinde zu "Intervallen" zusammengefasst und mit entsprechenden Codierungen versehen werden, wodurch sich selbst in diesem Fall die Archivierung vereinfachen lässt.In the rare cases in which the continuous flow of successively produced containers has been interrupted, the continuously successive containers can accordingly be combined into " intervals" and provided with corresponding codes, whereby even in this case archiving can be simplified.

Ein entsprechendes Verfahren wird bei der Erstellung und Archivierung der Codierung für die Paletten durchgeführt.A corresponding procedure is carried out when creating and archiving the coding for the pallets.

Die Kennzeichnung der Verpackungseinheiten durch eine solche Markierung kann auf verschiedenen Wegen erfolgen, beispielsweise Bedrucken mittels eines Tintenstrahldruckers, eines Laserdruckers, der Laserabtragung, Prägegeräten etc., das Aufbringen von Aufklebern, Magnetbändern etc., in verschiedenen Gestaltungsformen wie Barcode, 2D-Code etc., zum Beispiel für Datum, Uhrzeit, Produktionsort, Produktionsaggregat etc. oder in verschlüsselter Form.The labeling of the packaging units by such a marking can be done in various ways, such as printing by means of an inkjet printer, a laser printer, laser ablation, embossing equipment, etc., the application of stickers, magnetic tapes, etc., in various forms such as barcode, 2D code etc., for example for date, time, place of production, production unit etc. or in encrypted form.

Die Codierung auf den Gebinden sowie auf den Kartons und den Paletten ist in maschinenlesbarer Form, beispielsweise durch Barcode oder 2D-Code, auch unter dem Gesichtspunkt, dass Paletten, aber auch Kartons von verschiedenen Vertriebsorganisationen außerhalb des Herstellungsuntemehmens gehandhabt werden müssen und deshalb die codierte Informationen automatisch abgefragt werden müssen.The coding on the containers as well as on the boxes and the pallets is in machine-readable form, for example by barcode or 2D-code, also from the point of view that pallets, but also cartons must be handled by different sales organizations outside the manufacturing company and therefore the coded information must be queried automatically.

Die Codierung auf den Zigarettenpackungen kann auf das Cellophan erfolgen, beispielsweise durch einen Tintenstrahldrucker, oder durch das Cellophan hindurch auf das Material der Zigarettenpackung selbst, beispielsweise durch eine Laserbeschriftung.The coding on the cigarette packs can be done on the cellophane, for example by an inkjet printer, or through the cellophane on the material of the cigarette pack itself, for example by laser marking.

Bei der Beschriftung auf dem Cellophan ist es möglich, sichtbare Farbe zu verwenden oder aber Spezialfarben, die erst bei einer Spezialbehandlung, zum Beispiel unter UV-Licht, sichtbar wird.When labeling on the cellophane, it is possible to use visible color or special colors, which is visible only in a special treatment, for example under UV light.

Die Erfindung wird im Folgenden anhand eines Ausführungsbeispiels unter Bezugnahme auf die beiliegende, schematische Zeichnungen näher erläutert, deren einzige Figur ein Flussschema einer Anlage zur Herstellung und Verpackung von Zigaretten sowie zur Markierung der verschiedenen Verpackungseinheiten zeigt.The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, the single figure of which shows a flow chart of a system for producing and packaging cigarettes and for marking the various packaging units.

Die von einer Zigarettenmaschine hergestellten Zigaretten werden auf übliche Weise als kontinuierlicher Strom einem Päckchenpacker zugeführt, der sie in die kleinste Verpackungseinheit, nämlich eine Zigarettenpackung, verpackt.The cigarettes produced by a cigarette machine are supplied in the usual way as a continuous stream to a packet packer who packs them into the smallest packaging unit, namely a cigarette pack.

Diese Zigarettenpackungen werden einer sorgfältigen Qualitätskontrolle unterworfen, und erst im Anschluss an diese Qualitätskontrolle werden die Zigarettenpackungen mit der Codierung versehen, die auf die Folie der Zigarettenpackung aufgebracht wird. Die Codierung besteht z.B. aus einer Kennziffer für den Herstellungsort, einer Kennziffer für die Zigarettenmaschine, z.B. 07, einer Kennziffer für den Päckchenpacker, z.B. 05, sowie der Produktionszeit und ggf. einem Echtheitskennzeichen.These cigarette packs are subjected to a thorough quality control, and only after this quality control are the cigarette packs coded, which is applied to the film of the cigarette pack. The coding consists eg of a code number for the place of manufacture, a code number for the cigarette machine, eg 07, a code number for the packet packer, eg 05, as well as the production time and, if applicable, a mark of authenticity.

Da die Zigarettenpackungen einer strengen Qualitätskontrolle unterworfen werden, kommt es relativ häufig zum Auswurf von Packungen, so dass die Markierung der Zigarettenpackungen erst kurz vor dem folgenden Gebinde- oder Stangenpacker erfolgt.Since the cigarette packs are subjected to a strict quality control, it is relatively common for the ejection of packs, so that the marking of the cigarette packs takes place shortly before the next pack or bar packer.

Alle Zigarettenpackungen, die in einem bestimmten Zeitraum, z.B. 10 Sekunden oder 1 Minute von dieser einen Zigarettenmaschine hergestellt und von diesem einen Päckchenverpacker verpackt werden, erhalten die gleiche Codierung. Insbesondere erhalten nur die Packungen die gleiche Codierung, für die sichergestellt ist, dass sie in das gleiche Gebinde gepackt werden.All packets of cigarettes which, in a certain period of time, e.g. Produced 10 seconds or 1 minute from this one cigarette machine and packaged by this one packager get the same coding. In particular, only the packages receive the same coding, which ensures that they are packed in the same container.

Diese Zigarettenpackungen werden anschließend in Gebinde verpackt, die ebenfalls durch eine Codierung markiert werden. Dabei wird insbesondere dieselbe Codierung wie bei den Zigarettenpackungen verwendet, die sich in diesem Gebinde befinden.These cigarette packs are then packaged in containers, which are also marked by an encoding. In particular, the same coding is used as with the cigarette packs, which are located in this container.

Es wird eine maschinenlesbare Codierung, zum Beispiel ein Barcode, eingesetzt, die direkt im Gebindepacker aufgebracht wird.It is a machine-readable coding, for example, a barcode used, which is applied directly in the packer.

Die einzelnen Gebinde gelangen von dem Gebindepacker zu einem Gebindespeicher, der als Puffer dient und in vielen Fällen die Reihenfolge der Gebinde umkehrt (last in-first out). Außerdem werden manchmal Gebinde aus dem kontinuierlichen Fluss der Produktion für Qualitätskontrollen entnommen, so dass keine kontinuierliche, ununterbrochene Reihenfolge der Gebinde gewährleistet ist.The individual containers reach from the package packer to a container storage, which serves as a buffer and in many cases reverses the order of the containers (last in-first out). In addition, sometimes containers are taken from the continuous flow of production for quality control, so that no continuous, uninterrupted order of the containers is guaranteed.

Aus diesem Grunde befindet sich vor dem anschließenden Kartonpacker ein Lesegerät, das die Codierung auf den vorbeilaufenden Gebinden liest, die in einen einzigen Karton verpackt werden. Aus den eingelesenen Codierdaten der Gebinde für diesen Karton wird dann ein Kartondatensatz sowie eine Codierung für den Karton erstellt, die in maschinenlesbarer Form direkt in dem Kartonpacker aufgebracht wird. Diese Codierung setzt sich aus den Päckchen-/Gebinde-Codes aller Gebinde im Karton und einem zusätzlichen Karton-Code, z.B. 1500 zusammen, der den Kartonpacker und/oder anderen Informationen angibt.For this reason, there is a reader in front of the subsequent carton packer, which reads the coding on the passing containers, which are packed in a single carton. From the scanned coding data of the containers for this carton, a carton data record and a coding for the carton is then produced, which is applied in machine-readable form directly in the carton packer. This coding consists of the pack / pack codes of all packages in the carton and an additional carton code, e.g. 1500, which indicates the carton packer and / or other information.

Werden, wie erwähnt, alle Gebinde, die in einer Zeiteinheit hergestellt werden, mit der gleichen Codierung versehen, so kann als Karton-Codierung die Gebinde-Codierung in Verbindung mit einem zusätzlichen Karton-Code verwendet werden, so dass für jeden Karton nur ein solcher Datensatz, bestehend aus den Gebinde-Codes des ersten und des letzten Gebindes und dem dazugehörigen Karton-Code, abgespeichert werden muss.If, as mentioned, all containers that are produced in a time unit, provided with the same coding, so can be used as a carton coding the container coding in conjunction with an additional carton code, so that for each carton only such a data set, consisting of the packaging codes of the first and the last container and the associated cardboard code, must be stored.

In den seltenen Fällen, in denen der kontinuierliche Fluss von nacheinander produzierten Gebinden unterbrochen wird, kann man die aufeinanderfolgenden Gebinde zu "strings" zusammenfassen und entsprechend codieren, wodurch sich ebenfalls eine Reduzierung des Archivierungsaufwandes ergibt.In the rare cases in which the continuous flow of successively produced containers is interrupted, one can summarize the successive packages to " strings" and code accordingly, which also results in a reduction of the archiving effort.

Es erfolgt also eine Art "Lauflängen-Kompression".So there is a kind of " run length compression".

Ein entsprechendes Verfahren kann auch bei der Codierung der Paletten durchgeführt werden, die direkt an dem Palettenpacker erfolgt.A corresponding method can also be carried out in the coding of the pallets, which takes place directly on the pallet packer.

Falls hier ebenfalls ein Kartonspeicher als Puffer eingesetzt wird, muss ebenfalls wieder ein Lesegerät unmittelbar vor dem Palettenpacker installiert werden, das die Codierung auf den Kartons liest, die in eine Palette eingepackt werden sollen.If a carton store is also used as a buffer here, a reader must also be installed immediately in front of the pallet packer, which reads the coding on the cartons to be packed in a pallet.

Die Paletten-Codierung besteht aus der Karton-Codierung und einem zusätzlichen Paletten-Code.The pallet coding consists of the cardboard coding and an additional pallet code.

Auch hier kann auf die oben beschriebene Weise die Archivierung der Codierung vereinfacht werden.Again, the archiving of the encoding can be simplified in the manner described above.

Obwohl gemäß der obigen Erläuterung die Codierungen der kleinen Verpackungseinheiten identisch in den Codierungen der größeren Verpackungseinheiten enthalten sind, ist dies nicht unbedingt erforderlich, sondern es können auch Verschlüsselungen vorgenommen werden. Wichtig ist nur, dass man aus einer Codierung einer Verpackungseinheit die Codierungen der darin enthaltenen Verpackungseinheiten ableiten kann.Although, according to the above explanation, the encodings of the small packaging units are identically contained in the encodings of the larger packaging units, this is not necessarily required, but also encodings may be made. It is only important that one can derive the coding of the packaging units contained therein from a coding of a packaging unit.

Claims (17)

  1. A method for marking cigarette packaging units with an encrypted coding, characterised in that a coding is applied at each packaging stage, wherein each coding on a packaging unit (for example, a cardboard box) represents the coding of at least one of the smaller packaging units (for example, cartons or cigarette packets) contained therein.
  2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that each coding represents at least the type of smaller packaging units.
  3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the coding on a packaging unit represents the coding of each smaller packaging unit contained therein.
  4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the packaging units are coded at a point at which the coding takes into account all the packaging units which are combined to form a larger packaging unit.
  5. The method according to claim 4, characterised in that the coding is applied to the cigarette packets immediately upstream of the carton packer, i.e. after quality control has been performed on the cigarette packets.
  6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that all the cigarette packets which are delivered by the same cigarette machine and the same packet packer within a predetermined unit of time, in particular the unit of time necessary in order to produce the packets for a carton, are provided with the same coding.
  7. The method according to claim 6, characterised in that the cartons are provided with the same coding as the cigarette packets contained in them.
  8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the coding is applied to the cartons directly at the carton packer.
  9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the coding of the cartons which are fed to the cardboard box packer are detected and used to compile the cardboard box coding.
  10. The method according to claim 9, characterised in that the cardboard box dataset consists of the carton coding and a cardboard box code.
  11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the codings of the cardboard boxes which are collected on a pallet are detected and combined to form the pallet coding.
  12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that if packaging units are consecutive without gaps, the codings are archived in a compressed form, in particular in the manner of a run-length compression.
  13. The method according to claim 12, characterised in that only the codes of the first and last packaging unit are archived.
  14. A system for marking cigarette packaging units with an encrypted coding, characterised by:
    an arrangement for forming each coding for a packaging unit (for example, a cardboard box) such that the coding represents a coding of at least one smaller packaging unit (cigarette packet and/or carton) contained in the packaging unit; and
    an arrangement for applying a coding at each packaging stage.
  15. The system according to claim 14, characterised in that the device for applying the coding to the packets is arranged directly upstream of the carton packer.
  16. The system according to any one of claims 14 to 15, characterised in that a reading device for the carton codings is arranged upstream of the cardboard box packer.
  17. The system according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterised in that a reading device for the cardboard box codings is arranged upstream of the pallet packer.
EP04004653A 2003-03-17 2004-03-01 Method and apparatus for providing codes on cigarette pack units Expired - Lifetime EP1459988B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL04004653T PL1459988T3 (en) 2003-03-17 2004-03-01 Method and apparatus for providing codes on cigarette pack units

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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DE10311621A DE10311621B4 (en) 2003-03-17 2003-03-17 Method and system for identifying cigarette packaging units
DE10311621 2003-03-17

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EP1459988A1 EP1459988A1 (en) 2004-09-22
EP1459988B1 true EP1459988B1 (en) 2011-05-04

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AT (1) ATE508054T1 (en)
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PL1459988T3 (en) 2011-11-30
DE10311621A1 (en) 2004-10-07
EP1459988A1 (en) 2004-09-22
DE10311621B4 (en) 2007-04-19
DE502004012459D1 (en) 2011-06-16
ATE508054T1 (en) 2011-05-15

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